1. Library Directors’ View of Their Friends Groups
November 18, 2017
Carl Nawrocki FOCL
Kate Byroade CLA

2. Survey of CT Library Directors
Time Frame: Survey conducted from August 22 to October 3, 2017
Purpose: Gather information on how Directors view and interact with their Friends groups
Focus: Discover how groups are performing, communication, finances
and recognition

3. Demographics
There are 169 Libraries in the State
115 Library Directors Completed Survey
56% Municipal / 40% Association
83% Have Friends Groups
The survey response has produced highly representative and accurate data

4. Both are governed by the same State Statues
How Do Municipal and Association Libraries Differ?
Municipal
The library is a department of the municipality
The municipality owns the library
Funded by the municipality with Friends support
Association
The library is a 501(c)3 non-profit
The library can be owned by the municipality or the association
Funded by the municipality, Friends, and private support
Both are governed by the same State Statues

5. How Would You Describe Your Friends Group?
Half of the Friends Groups are doing well

6. Municipal – Between very and somewhat active. They do a
great job but sometimes waiver on what their mission is.
Municipal – Our Friends group has one program – a used
Bookstore open 5 day per week. It is their only activity and it
is very successful. They contribute about $25,000 each year.
Association – We do not have a separate 501(c)3 Friends
Group or a defined Friends group with board, meetings etc.
We do have a group of about 50+ volunteers who do extensive
fundraising for us raising about 20% of the library’s budget each
year.
Association – I feel as if I am their employee. They are resistant
to change and funding improvements/new programs. They
scoff at anything over a few hundred dollars.

7. In What Areas Would You Like Your Friends Group To Focus
. Other category: Volunteer at fundraisers and events, continue work on outreach projects, increasng membership, provide perks to increase members and activities

8. In What Areas Would You Like Your Friends Group To Focus (cont’d)
Municipal
Association
Association Boards are allowed to Advocate and Solicit Funds.

9. Communications
96% of Library Directors Are Invited to Friends Meetings
88% of Library Directors Try to Attend Friends Meetings
Only 60% of Library Directors are Members of Their Friends Group

10. Who Controls the Friends Money?
57% of the Friends Groups Control the Flow of Money. The Library Director’s Requests are Voted On for Each Appropriation. (62% Municipal vs. 47% Association)
23% give the Library Director an Annual Dollar Amount
The Remainder are Mostly Association Libraries and Funds Raised are Controlled by the Trustees

11. Do You Provide a Wish List to Your Friends Group?
2/3 of Library Directors Provide a Wish List
Do Friends Ever Deny Funding Requests?
Requests are Rarely or Never Denied 2/3 of the
Time and Sometimes Denied 1/3 of the Time
How well do the Friends work with you to meet your plans?
80% Very well/well
13% Fair
7% Not well

12. All Library Directors Report That They Support Their Friends Groups
76% Mention in Library Newsletter
67% Advertise in Local Paper
94% Give Credit At All Friends Sponsored Events
88% Participate in Friends Events
62% Help Friends recruit New Friends Members
Library Directors and Staff sometimes provide significant help with newsletters, web site and other administrative support.

13. Annual FOCL Awards
Only 20% of Friends Groups or Individuals Have Been Nominated for a FOCL Award Despite the Fact That the Library Directors Were Nearly All Aware of the Program

14. So What Did We Learn From Our Library Directors?
The large number of responses (115) indicates Library Directors are very interested in their Friends groups.
Advocacy and Awareness are nearly as important as Fundraising.
80 % of Friends Groups meet their Library Directors expectations, however 50% of the groups need to increase their membership and activity.

15. So What Did We Learn From Our Library Directors?
Nearly 2/3 of Friends funding is given on a request basis, however the requests are rarely denied.
One-quarter of the Library Directors receive an annual budget from their Friends group.
Library Directors believe they provide a great deal publicity and office support to their Friends .
Recognition of Friends by Library Directors is often
performed locally